Catnip is known to be a magical plant with an irresistible attraction for cats. As soon as the cat smells it, it goes straight to the head. Even the cold kitten is like a different cat in front of the catnip…… So, what is it about catnip that makes cats want it?
Why cats are addicted to catnip
Stimulate appetite
Catnip stimulates your cat’s stomach and increases the secretion of stomach acid and gastric juices, thereby strengthening your cat’s digestive function and effectively increasing its appetite. Therefore, catnip in moderation can act as a natural appetite enhancer to help your cat eat more willingly.
In addition to stimulating the appetite, the unique aroma of catnip also has a significant stimulating effect on the olfactory system of cats. This stimulation will cause the cat to lick its hair more frequently, thus achieving the effect of self-cleaning.
Excitatory action
Because catnip contains nepeta lactone components, can directly act on the cat’s central nervous system, causing its exciting response, such as rolling, jumping, rubbing, meowing, etc., enough to make the cat on its head, can not stop. However, it is important to note that this state of arousal is often short-lived and does not cause the cat to become dependent
Repellent action
Not only can catnip stimulate appetite and cleanliness and induce excitement, it also has a lesser-known effect – repelling mosquitoes! Catnip extract is an effective mosquito repellent, with a strong repellent effect, which is one of the reasons cats like to rub their bodies with catnip.
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